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24 PEAKS: Redlands man’s quest to begin

Paul Melzer, a 55-year-old Redlands man who works for the Wildlands Conservancy, on a trail near the conservancy on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Melzer plans to traverse 24 peaks in the San Bernardino and Yucaipa ranges of the San Bernardino Mountains May 24-25. He is gathering pledges to the conservancy based on how far he gets -- or doesn't get along the way.

Paul Melzer of Redlands plans to start his quest Friday evening, May 24, to reach 24 peaks in the San Bernardino Mountains in 24 hours.

Melzer, who turns 56 on Friday, said he will set out from the Bearpaw Preserve lodge about 6:30 p.m. and hike up about 5,000 feet to 10,649-foot San Bernardino Peak. Then he will set out east across the San Bernardino range, on to the Yucaipa range and back to the lodge in the Forest Falls area.

An ultra-marathon runner, Melzer hopes to establish a record by doing what no hiker is believed to have done before: making it to each of the peaks in a one-day period. He is also seeking pledges of contributions to the nonprofit Wildlands Conservancy based on his progress.

Melzer is betting $750 of his own money that he will make it at leas to the halfway point, 11,499-foot Mount San Gorgonio. He expects to reach the peak about sunrise.

Melzer will be taking a beacon with him that will transmit his position via satellite. Go to www.pe.com to see a link to the web site that will track his location throughout the night and through Saturday.

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